From 1872 until 1876, Lewis served as superintendent of schools in Nephi, Utah. He was also a justice of the peace there. He then went to Salt Lake City where he was the teacher at the 20th Ward School. In 1879, Lewis became superintendent of schools for Salt Lake County and in from 1885 to 1887, he was principal of Ogden High School. Lewis also served as Superintendent of Utah Territorial Schools from 1894 until statehood was achieved at the start of 1896.

In the October 1882 General Conference of the church, following the custom of the day, Lewis was issued a surprise calling to become a Seventy and serve as one of the quorum's seven presidents. The congregation sustained him. However, as he was about to be set apart the next day, he reported he had already been ordained a high priest and was therefore not set apart, and never served in the quorum presidency.

A polygamist, Lewis was married to sisters Martha J. Coray and Ephrina Sarepa Coray. He was the father of 17 children.[2]